How to Choose the Best Arborist Company for You
How to Choose The Best Arborist Company for You
Choosing the perfect company to take care of your tree care needs can definitely be difficult and stressful. What aspects should you consider?
Here are our top tips for making sure that the arborist company you choose is a good fit for you, your budget, and your needs. Let’s get started!
Consider Potential Risks
Before you hire anyone to do your tree work for you, make sure you have considered all the potential risks involved. The work of an arborist is incredibly demanding and can even be dangerous – this means that you need to choose a company that can really handle the tasks you require of them.
While you may be tempted to choose a cheaper option, or to take a chance on a company, this is definitely not an opportunity for you to go with a business you haven’t researched thoroughly.
Make Sure You are Dealing With a Legitimate, Reputable Company
Once you have a company that you are considering for arborist work, look into their credentials and make sure that they have the experience and qualifications they need. If you are looking online, it is fairly easy for just about anyone to create a website and pose as a real business. Make sure you do your research.
Does the company in question have a business license? Are they properly insured? Make sure that they have current liability insurance, and get a copy of it for yourself. If you have work done by someone who isn’t insured and an accident occurs, you could have some serious damage and costs to deal with as the homeowner. You will most likely have to pay for the property damage yourself, and you could even get sued as well.
Without a business license, you can’t get business insurance. Request a copy of the company business license before agreeing to work with them.
Get Your Estimate in Writing
Make sure that you protect yourself. Get the estimate for the work that needs to be done in writing before the job is started.While you may want to simply take someone’s word for the estimate, a legitimate business will always put their offer in writing without asking any questions.
Check Out the Safety Gear
It is vitally important that the team working on your trees is protected with the proper safety gear .
The ground personnel should at the very least be utilizing helmets with face shields, steel toe boots, and protective glasses. The climbers should have the appropriate glasses, steel toe boots, climbing ropes, the proper saddle, and helmet. If someone shows up with just a ladder and no safety gear, tell them you won’t be needing their services.
The workers will be lifting heavy objects, climbing tall trees, and doing a multitude of other tasks that require preparation and proper safety.
Understand the Work
When you are getting the estimate for the work you need to be done, make sure every detail matches up with what you were expecting.
Ask questions like what will happen to the brush they are collecting? Are they shaping the whole tree or simply cutting away the dead branches? Are they raking up leaves and twigs afterwards? Etc. Like we said before, make sure to get everything in writing and ensure that everyone has a clear understanding of what needs to be completed.
Try to be as Patient as Possible
While parts of this process may seem incredibly frustrating, especially comparing prices and services and getting everything in writing – make sure that you stay as calm and patient as you can.
Pricing and service options can vary quite drastically when it comes to different companies. Some businesses are better equipped for some jobs over others, and they may even attempt to compensate for the other types of jobs by bidding them high.
How busy the company in question is has a lot to do with their pricing as well. If you hire them during a slower time, you may have a lower price to deal with.
Tree work is something that you always want to make sure you get at a high quality. This doesn’t only refer to their pricing, but also to how safe, professional, insured, and experienced they are.
Check Reviews Before Your Final Decision
You should definitely make sure to check the internet for customer reviews and even the Better Business Bureau to make sure the company you are dealing with has a good reputation. Doing this is an easy way to get a feel for how the company is perceived and whether or not you want to give them your money.
We hope that you found our list of tips helpful for choosing the best arborist company for you. If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, we would love for you to check us out as well!
